Published date: 30 November 2023

This notice was replaced on 26 April 2024

This notice does not contain the most up-to-date information about this procurement. The most recent notice is:

Awarded contract (published 26 April 2024)

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Contract summary

Industry

  • Survey services - 79311000

  • Survey conduction services - 79311200

Location of contract

CO4 3SQ

Value of contract

£70,000,000

Procurement reference

2e12d26c-aadd-4666-b4c4-b3d8954ccbfc

Published date

30 November 2023

Closing date

5 February 2024

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

29 March 2024

Contract end date

28 March 2031

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (above threshold)

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

This procedure can be used for procurements above the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

No

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

Description

Understanding Society: The UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS) is a major household panel survey funded by the Economic and Social Research Council with co-funding from some government departments. This phase includes six waves of the core annual survey - approximately 21,000 households issued continuously throughout the year - and six waves of the Innovation Panel (IP) - approximately 1,500 households interviewed summer/autumn each year. Both surveys have a sequential mixed mode design using a combination of web, CAPI and to a smaller extent CATI, to maximise participation. We also enhance the annual data collection with more detailed information from participants, including biomeasures, or collecting information on a wider set of participants connected to sample members. In addition, we have a programme of continuous innovation both to improve the quality of data on the core surveys and to enhance the Study.

The requirement to provide high quality, household longitudinal social survey data is critical for the success of Understanding Society. In evaluating bids we will be particularly looking for evidence of a commitment to a cycle of continuous improvement by monitoring activities, identifying problems and improving processes to ensure high quality data collection and data delivery. We will also be looking for evidence of a commitment to open communication and transparency with us about monitoring, problems, and improvement processes. Achieving high response rates across modes and samples, minimising attrition and response bias, and the timely delivery of quality-assured questionnaire scripts and data will be of the highest priority.

This invitation to tender covers core activities associated with data collection for (1) Waves 17 to 22 of the main survey, and (2) Waves 18 to 23 of the IP and a number of additional elements scheduled for 2025-2030. These additional elements are listed below:

1. An experimental general population refreshment sample of Great Britain, to add around 500 productive households to the Innovation Panel at IP18 (2025). This would experiment with the use of a 'recruitment phase' to engage participants and collect contact information prior to the household's first main survey. This would test recruitment approaches for the Wave 20 boosts (see items 3 and 4, below);

2. A general population boost of Great Britain to add around 500 households to the IP20 (2027);

3. Wave 20 (2028-29): An ethnic minority boost of 3000 households, designed to sample the areas of the UK with a relatively high proportion of ethnic minority people, with the great majority of sample points being in England.

4. Wave 20 (2028-29): A Celtic boost of 2,500 households, to increase the number of participants in Wales (1000 households), Scotland (1000 households), and Northern Ireland (500 households).

5. Wave 22 (2030-31) will include biomarker data collection and will also need a pilot to run in early 2029.

6. IP23 (2030): a general population boost of Great Britain to add around 500 households to the IP.

More information

Links

About the buyer

Contact name

Aston Baker

Address

University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park
, ,
Colchester
CO4 3SQ
UNITED KINGDOM

Telephone

01206 872779

Email

ab17001@essex.ac.uk